Lonestar and the fair

While Ashley and the girls are here the fair is in town, We got tickets to see Lonestar! Some of the kids enjoyed it but not all. Sloane was so excited about the rides she wanted the concert to be over soon. After the concert we did take the kids to ride rides but also to play games! With the help of uncle Josh all of the kids got tot play a game and win a prize! Ryann got a Hanna Montana guitar, Seiler got a remote controlled car, Sloane was thrilled to claim the big stuffed black spider man, and Micah got a huge pink monkey! Ashley was so glad for uncle Josh at that moment! At the end of the night we were all exhausted but it was soo much fun!

Lake Day

Ashley and the girls are in town and you know what our favorite pass time during the summer is...
going to the Lake and so when people come to visit we always make the trip!! This time we stayed over night at our friend's lake house! it was so nice to wake up with such a beautiful view! Josh and I woke up early and started breakfast, Ryann woke up and decided to help. Slowly everyone else woke up and the kids were so excited they just wanted to go on the boat so bad they eat their Breakfast fast! With Josh as our Captain, like usual, the kids would yell "Faster!! Faster!!" Mostly everyone took turns on the rafts and skis. Josh , Brandon, Ashley, and the kids took turns on the cliffs!Emie was so cute! she was probably the most excited! She loves her glasses and would cry if anyone tried to take them off!!

Boys' 5 Day Canoe Trip

Josh went on what was supposed to be a 6 day canoe trip with the boy scouts. They had so much fun they finished a whole day early. It was hard for me I missed Josh sooo much and he barely had good reception at any of their stops so I only got to talk to him a short few times! Mostly I was bored! I did get in some ME TIME which was kinda nice but I still missed my good night kisses and prayer partner!

Does this say what I think it says?

I've been really tired lately and not feeling quite myself, This morning I woke up early from an urge to go to the bathroom! i was late this month so decided to take a test! Half asleep I didn't know if I was actually seeing it right! I took it to mom and had her take a look! Josh was still sleeping so we decided to suprise him, we ran to the store and got a dozen pink and blue balloons! We tied them to a white bear with the test strip and put it on the hood of his truck! he was so suprised and very very excited! I still can't believe it is true!

Shrine Circus

Took the kids to the Circus! We had to wait in line out side for a long time and it was freezing cold, but once we got inside it was nice and stuffy!! There were black elephants, Beautiful Huge Tigers, trained dogs,and a baboon! There were acrobats, ribbon dancers, hand and hand balancing, ultimate motorcycle riders!! It was really good and the entertainment was never ending! the Tigers were my favorite of course, they were funny too! One even did tight rope walking, that was really cool!! My second fav and one that I enjoy every time i go was the "wind-up toy elephant"!! For all you non Circus goers.... A clown comes out with some stuffed animals and one being an elephant... he winds them up and they don't move, but the last one, the elephant does... for a while then it falls over like dead! so he winds it up over and over again and i goes then falls over dead! But what most people don't know is that is really a really well trained dog in an elephant costume!! It is soo cute and this particular dog was the best one I've seen!! The kids all loved every minute Seilers favorite was the Amazing Ultimate Motorcycle Riders!!! He just couldn't believe they could fit six riders in that sphere and they all could ride around without hitting one another!! It was great family fun!

Betty Crocker??! NO!

Our Ward helps out one night of every month to feed the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House and this month I signed up to take a salad! Well the sister in charge of who brings what came to me on Sunday and asked if I would bring a dessert instead?! This month's theme was Italian so I decided I would look up a recipe I've never tried before and see how it worked!!! Has anyone ever tried Tiramisu?? For those who have probably know that this recipe is usually made with coffee or espresso! But, I found a recipe for it without those! And it was wonderful! I made it last night and put it in the fridge all night and today until i took it tonight at 7! Needless to say I brought the dish home clean!!!
Strawberry Tiramisu

Ingredients:

4 large eggs*
2 cups Mascarpone cheese, don't use substitutes
about 36 Savoiardi (lady fingers) found at your local grocer
3/4 cup sugar
fresh strawberries for decoration

For the strawberries sauce
1 - 1/2 lbs. fresh strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water

Instructions:

1. In a sauce pan cook strawberries, sugar and water for few minutes until the sugar dissolves.

2. Pour the strawberries in a food processor and blend until smooth. Pass the strawberry sauce through a fine mesh strainer to eliminate the seeds. Set the sauce aside until cool.

3. In the meantime beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form and then refrigerate.

4. In a large bowl beat the egg yolks with the sugar until fluffy. Use an electric hand mixer or a food processor.

5. Add the mascarpone cheese to the egg yolk mixture and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.

6. Gently fold the egg whites into the mascarpone mixture.

7. Dip both sides of the savoiardi into the the strawberry juice and place them in the cake dish (my dish is rectangular about 18" x 10"). Cover the savoiardi with some extra spoons of sauce.

8. Spread half of the mascarpone cream over the ladyfingers then cover this layer with
remaining ladyfingers always dipped in the strawberries sauce.

9. Complete the dish spreading the rest of the mascarpone cream.

10. Decorate with strawberries slices or if you prefer cut in half. Refrigerate for at least 6-7 hours, better yet overnight.

A Sweet Surprize!

Tonight I was up at the church preparing for mutual. With the help of my sister I was teaching the girls how to cook a easy healthy meal! When I got there I realized I was missing some of the ingredients I needed! So, I asked my wonderful husband if He'd run to the store for me! This is what he brought back, along with what I needed!! He is just too good to me and I am amazed how lucky I am! ...to have someone who can always put a smile on my face is truly a blessing!

Couples Night!

Josh and I invited a few of our friends over to play cards! It was tons of fun they were here all night!! Cassie and Paul brought over their pup Abby and Gail and Derrick Brought over Addy! It was like a doggie party! Chueca didn't know what to think! These puppies are much smaller and younger than her plus she doesn't think she is a dog so it was interesting to see how she interacted with them!!

Ryann's Birthday Baptism

What a Beautifully lucky girl! I don't know many people who get baptized on their actual birthday! But Ryann is a lucky girl and has been since day one!! She brought this family together years ago and continues to every step through out her life!! It was great having Ashley, Emie, Corrine, and Kristofer here! The Spirit is always strong when the family gathers but it was so powerful Today!! Uncle Lee, and Uncle Josh couldn't hold the tears back as they each gave talks on baptism and the Holy Ghost! You could feel the love and power of such a specail day all around! Ryann looked like an Angel all in white, and a smile that just didn't quit! Ashley, Brittany, Corrine, and I all sang the song "Baptism." I love singing with my sisters! Brittany out did herself like she always does! There was more food than this church has ever seen at a baptism! And it was all healthy!!! :)

Orphan Annie

Annie came to Springfield! Mom, Josh , Ryann and I all went to see the musical Annie! It was Awesome! The voices on those kids are totally star quality! I was a little disappointed because there was a lot of bad language, Why would you do that in a kid show?? It's beyond me! Other than that it was a wonderful performance! Annie stole the show!! And the other orphan girls were so cute and talented as well! Ryann loved the show! As we were walking back to the car I asked her "Ryann, do you want sing like that?" she replied "Oh I can, I just don't know the words!" LOL, Wish I had that confidence!

Valentine's Day

Josh and I had a wonderful Valentines day! He spoiled me like usual!! First things first, While I was in the shower getting ready for work, I thought Josh was sleeping... I came back in my room to sit down by my mirror where I usually do my makeup and hair, and it was attacked with hearts, all over the mirror and floor!! Great suprise! I keep telling Josh that in our new house I want a big fat jacuzzi tube in the master bath because I miss taking bubble baths! So for Valentines he rented us a room with just that!! Plus he got me not only one piece of jewelry, not even two.... But 5! A necklace, ring and an earring set, and a necklace and bracelet set! All my birthstone Blue Topaz! They are beautiful!!! I was so happy with just spending a romantic night away, but I was blown away again!!! I love Him!! It's amazing how one man can be so Amazing!!

Ice Storm Again??

We heard crashes all night long and woke up to this!! We are living in a glass city, so it seems! It is so beautiful but scary at the same time!It is raining yet it is so cold that it freezes as quickly as it falls encasing our world in ice! The weight of the ice is too unbearable for the trees! Especially because two days ago we had tornadoes which weakened them! What we didn't lose in the tornadoes seems to have been lost in this ice storm! It kind of reminds me of the movie Narnia! Everything is white and crystallized! Brittany lost all her trees, her whole street had

trees down everywhere you couldn't even drive down to the houses! Dad and Josh went over to help Brandon and Ryann finish off the trees and get them out of the driveway! One of Brittany's neighbors had both of their cars covered by trees!

WANTED by the Republic Police Department

Seiler has been taken down to the Republic Police Department to take a tour with his friends and family! This is all he wanted for his birthday!

We had Officer Davis show us all his gear as a S.W.A.T. team member! then he taught the kids about gun safety and how they should never touch them!

Selier and uncle Josh were handcuffed together!Then we went through the tour taking our finger prints and checking out the nasty jail cell!

At the end of the tour and most of the kids favorite, Officer Davis let the kids jump into his car and turn on the sirens!! It was "Really Cool" said Seiler!








To end the day like a real officer we went to Krispy Kremes to stuff our faces with donuts!!!

Reconstructing Nauvoo

I was in charge of the Family home evening lesson this week! I decided to talk about Joseph Smith and I found this lesson about old Nauvoo!I had everyone put this paper city together as I told the story about the Book of Mormon and those who were a big influence on it becoming published. I then told them about the movement to Nauvoo and about some of the people who were significant in the construction of old Nauvoo! I then helped finish the project! Seiler, Ryann and Jessica had a lot of fun!